章節 116: Chapter 116: Preparing for Battle
**
Nick Fury lay in the medical bay, his injuries now under control. The advanced equipment and medications there were more than sufficient to treat him. For now, he was resting.
Meanwhile, the Avengers had made their decision, and there was no need for anyone to linger any longer. Link opened a portal to send Tony Stark and Bruce Banner back to their respective places, and then returned to the Osborn Tower himself.
The next conversation with Fury would take place once he awoke.
---
Jessica remained at Osborn Tower, managing the charity foundation via video calls. However, Matt Murdock sensed something was off.
Since Link's appearance on Oprah, where he revealed his connection to the Avengers, trouble had been brewing. Now, with Jessica staying at Osborn Tower rather than heading to the foundation as usual, Matt couldn't help but be concerned.
"Jessica, are you and Link in some kind of trouble?" Matt asked through the video call.
"It's not trouble exactly. I just need to stay at Osborn Tower for a while. Don't let it interfere with your work," Jessica reassured him. "By the way, has the number of legal aid applications increased recently?"
"Absolutely. We've been getting a lot more attention lately. While we reject some cases, many clients come to us just for the name recognition," Matt replied. "Some people even expect free representation for things as small as a traffic ticket."
Jessica nodded. "That's to be expected. Our team's excellent work has attracted a lot of attention. New York has more cases than we can count, so there's no shortage of people hoping for a handout."
Managing a charitable foundation wasn't as simple as handing out money; it required discerning judgment.
"If we're short on staff, start hiring more people. Since we've made a name for ourselves, it's time to expand," Jessica suggested. "And those assistants and interns—if they're qualified, promote them."
"We've been evaluating them. I can also reach out to my alma mater to recruit recent graduates," Matt offered.
"I won't be able to oversee things for a while, but you all know what to do. If anything comes up, give me a call," Jessica said as she finished up her work. By that time, Link had returned to the tower.
"Is it all settled?" Jessica asked as she approached him.
"Not entirely. We just finished voting and decided on our next steps," Link responded, giving her a kiss before pouring himself a bourbon. "But it's not a big deal. We'll have it all wrapped up soon."
"Will it expose you?" Jessica asked with concern.
"No, it should be smooth sailing this time," Link reassured her.
Neither of them was worried about their safety, only about remaining incognito. If the public learned of Link's abilities, the media frenzy wouldn't stop. Speculation would snowball, and people might even accuse him of being an alien.
---
Nick Fury slowly regained consciousness, feeling far more rested than he had in days. The pain from his wounds was now a mere dull ache, much easier to bear.
"...Thirsty?" His voice was weak as he tried to speak.
"You're awake," Natasha said, sitting beside him. "Thirsty?"
Seeing Fury struggle to open his mouth, Natasha grabbed a cup of warm water and carefully helped him drink.
"Thanks," Fury managed, his voice much clearer now.
"How long was I out?" he asked.
"Not even a day," Natasha replied. "They gave you a nutrient drip, but I'm sure you're hungry."
"No rush. Did you all reach a decision?" Fury asked.
"We did." Natasha then informed him of the team's decision. Fury, rather than being upset, seemed resigned.
"I agree with your plan. Hill is more than capable of running S.H.I.E.L.D. She's been my successor-in-training for years," Fury said calmly. "You've analyzed the situation well. I've also made secret preparations. If anything major happens, Coulson will be ready to step in."
Natasha looked at Fury sharply. "You still have secrets. Ones Link didn't uncover."
Fury chuckled, the movement pulling at his wounds and causing him to grimace in pain. "You're sharp, as always."
"You caught me," he admitted. "But this one stays mine."
Natasha rolled her eyes. "I'll get you something to eat and let the others know you're awake."
---
With Fury's agreement, the Avengers quickly regrouped to strategize for the upcoming battle.
Link began, "We still can't fully identify who's Hydra. Luckily, I've been to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters before, so I can transport us to different locations."
"First, the hangar. We can't let any Quinjet take off. Hawkeye, that's your responsibility. Think you can handle it?" Link asked.
"No problem," Clint replied, well-suited for controlling the exterior of the building.
Then Link turned to Natasha. "You know how to fly a Harrier, right?"
"Of course," Natasha affirmed.
"Good. You'll pilot the Harrier and take control of the airspace. Once the helicarrier bay doors open, attack."
Link continued assigning roles, turning to Steve Rogers next. "Cap, you'll head to the PA system. Order all S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel to disarm."
"I trust that Hydra agents will be the ones still holding weapons, making it easy to identify them."
"And they'll listen to you," Link added with confidence.
"Got it," Steve nodded.
"Bruce, you and Maria Hill will go straight for Alexander Pierce. We don't know much about Hydra, but Pierce could provide some useful information." Link finished laying out the plan.
"One last thing to remember—some of them might explode," Link warned.
He was referring to the Extremis-enhanced individuals. Though they hadn't attacked Avengers Tower recently, Link knew that Killian was still out there, biding his time.
"Be cautious when engaging those enhanced individuals. Prioritize civilian safety. Our suits are bulletproof, but be wary of heavy artillery," Link reminded them.
"As for me, I'll be in the control room, ensuring they can't activate any systems. That's the plan."
With the mission clear, Link's mind shifted to the future. Falcon hadn't yet joined the Avengers, but recruitment was on Link's agenda. Once this operation was over, the team would receive their new spaceship, and additional recruits—like Falcon—would be necessary.
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